The Menopause And You

The menopause is a way of life and unfortunately it comes to all of us. How you cope with the menopause is up to you and there is no right way or wrong way to go about it. Your symptoms will undoubtedly be different to those of your mother and every other female you know who has undergone or is currently going through the menopause and so you should never compare yourself to anyone else. Your menopause is individual to you and whether you relish it or dread it, you can be sure that it will continue whether you want it to or not.

Many of the common symptoms of the menopause can be controlled to a certain extent and how you do this is again up to you. Severe symptoms may need the help of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and you will need to consult a doctor before treatment can begin.

There are a lot of benefits to HRT however there are also a number of risks and side effects which should be explained to you before you agree to anything. Alternatively you might want to try herbal remedies or Ayurvedic treatments to combat some of your symptoms. More and more women are turning to alternative therapies to help them to cope and from studies conducted these forms of treatment are very beneficial and have no known side effects.

One of the common symptoms of the menopause that many women don't even associate with the process may cause you to have irritable moods or depressed days. We all occasionally have these days however during the initial few years of the menopause these days can turn into weeks and these weeks can make you want to scream or cry.

This is unfortunately a natural consequence of your fluctuating hormone levels and although HRT can help to combat these mood swings, it can also make them worse. Many women find it much easier to just explain to their friends and family, and even their close work colleagues that they are menopausal and that any wrong words should not be taken to heart. When people around you understand it takes a lot of the stress away and some of your symptoms may ease as a result.

While you are experiencing the menopause it is important to keep yourself healthy and to stay active. This means eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre, and doing some form of physical activity each day. This can simply be a brisk walk in the park, a swim at the local baths or even the housework.

In fact as long as the activity causes your heart rate to rise then it counts as exercise. It is also important to set aside some time each day to just relax. Whether you have a long bubble bath or just sit and read your book it doesn't matter - just as long as you get the chance to forget the stresses of the day and unwind for an hour.

Few women say they actually enjoy the menopause however you should relish it as much as you can. It spells the end of PMS, the end of your monthly periods and the annoying side effects that come with it and the start of a new chapter in your life - what more could a woman ask for.

About Menopause